Why are most of us good at certain strokes and not others? Is it genetics, body type, coaching, preference?
And why are some of us good at long axis, but not short axis? And vice versa?
Or why are we good at one short axis stroke, but not the other?
Former Member
Originally Posted by Rob Copeland forums.usms.org/.../viewpost.gif
I get it now. This is one of those British versus American things.
The crown colonies prefer the “Australian Crawl” while those of us in the US of A prefer to be in the land of the “Free”.
...plus tax...
;)
Actually, the first book I ever read about swimming (and from which I learned how to swim back in the mid '50s) was Johnny Weissmuller's book. Title: "Swimming the Australian Crawl".
Johnny was actually swimming a refined version of the Australian Crawl.
Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian swimmer who won three Olympic gold was the final great improver to the Australian crawl. He changed the kick by adding more flutter kicks - six per arm stroke cycle, not two as like the Australian crawl.
what stroke is freestyle..... Fly? Backstroke? Butterfrog? Breaststroke? Sidestroke? or Crawl? or all of the above.Freestyle is any of these and more, except that in a medley relay or individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke.
And if you want to be semantically correct, within the world of competitive swimming (according to FINA, USMS and USA Swimming rules) there is no reference to crawling; “In an event designated freestyle, the swimmer may swim any style”. This style could be a front crawl, back crawl, trudgen crawl, and who could forget the elementary backstroke. Except back crawl and elementary backstroke could not be used during the freestyle leg of an IM or MR.;):duel:
99% of the time that's what people do in the freestyle events. In fact, my own observations from masters and USA-S meets is that it is a 100%.
Not my observations... 04 LCM Nats in Savanah. Someone - I think it was Bill Specht - decided to enter only fly and freestyle events, but swim them all butterfly. I can't recall whether or not the gentleman also did the 400.
In fact, the muppets have separately entered separate 200 frees this last season and swam them backstroke
Yay for the Commonwealth!! :woot:I get it now. This is one of those British versus American things.
The crown colonies prefer the “Australian Crawl” while those of us in the US of A prefer to be in the land of the “Free”.
Crawl is not a good description for that stroke,then again breaststroke isn't a very good name either(frogstroke?)Fort,you are a good freestyler because you are a bundle of fast twitch fibers and have good/great technique. Now if you would just embrace your inner frog you would be a complete swimmer.:groovy:
Semantics, George! Freestyle is crawl.
Freestyle isn't crawl. It's a convenience word. Since you can do sidestroke ina freestyle race it is not crawl. Those of us who appreciate the subtlelties, or semantics as you put it, tolerate the overuse of "freestyle," but we know the truth.
A freestyle event may be most swam using crawl, but it does not name the stroke. Now go practice your eggbeaters like a good wannabe breaststroker...:thhbbb:
(For those of you trolling in black and white, I actually really like Fortress and we publicly tease each other often--it's a special relationship:kiss1:
...not that we have a "relationship" or anything...I mean we don't. That's not to say that I don't think she's cute or anything, and hypothetically would have a "relationship" ...but I strongly deny anything unhealthy about our relationship--if it was a "relationship." OK, now I've cleared that up.... )
:rofl:
Stud
Truer words were never spoken, Free style to me is any stroke. The stroke mostly used in a freestyle race, is the CRAWL (yes I am shouting). Sorry for using caps Fort.
Thanks Rob for the IM relay stuff you will only find me doing Crawl or Butterfly. None of the sea sick stroke - Backstroke, and never that other horrible breaststroke.
Stud
Truer words were never spoken, Free style to me is any stroke. The stroke mostly used in a freestyle race, is the CRAWL (yes I am shouting). Sorry for using caps Fort.
Thanks Rob for the IM relay stuff you will only find me doing Crawl or Butterfly. None of the sea sick stroke - Backstroke, and never that other horrible breaststroke.
Yay for the Commonwealth!! :woot:
hehehe
